Networks, Partnerships & Resources

According to Kalantzopoulos (2003), “young people are the custodians of our society and the trustees of prosperity for future generations”. Furthermore, the Report of the CARICOM Commission on Youth Development (2010), argues that “young people comprise the sector of the population best positioned by virtue of their creative potential to play the leading role in responding to the challenges of globalisation and, therefore, to the demands of regional integration and the CSME”. Although there are many challenges facing our Caribbean youth today, we must hold on to these views and present opportunities for our young people so that they can feel empowered to make positive contributions within their Caribbean territories so as to promote national and ultimately regional development.

In this unit, we will look at the regional youth sector and youth development work as well as contemporary youth development initiatives aimed at addressing challenges facing our Caribbean young people today. Furthermore, we will examine national and regional issues relating to youth development work such as legislation, policy and funding. Finally, we will examine the concept of a National Youth Development Agenda (NYDA), its purpose and the key components of a NYDA.

Session 1.1: The Regional Youth Sector and Contemporary Youth Development Issues and Initiatives
Session 1.2: Issues Relating to Youth Development Work
Session 1.3: The National Youth Development Agenda